Evo Kitchen & Bar in Portland - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

It is shocking how the food fluctuates and service. On top of it we got a window bar sitting that was not enough space for 4 which we expressed our concerns. By the time we finished our dinner the other half of tables were still available. Unacceptable!!! It is definitely not 4 or 5 star restaurant!

Food was so good! Had both the chickpea fries and the lamb and they were both incredible!

The food was amazing, also the service. We would prefer a better table for the next time. Thank you!

They charge a 4% “kitchen wellness” fee, which they don’t advertise up front. It’s not transparent to customers to surprise us with this at the end of the meal and expect 22-24% on the subtotal versus 18-20%. The only solution to push back against tipflation is to reduce the tip percentage left for the waiter/waitress. The food was very good.

Amazing food and service! Everything was so flavourful and fresh. We will definitely be back!

Fantastic experience. Their vegan tasting menu was unexpected and an absolute delight. This was the restaurant highlight of our visit to Portland.

The food and service was amazing. While the seating is creative and delicious the indoor seating is all counter seating. We had the skordalia which was delicious. The pita was soft and tasty, could have used a third one. We had the carrots and the broccolini and the summer squash salad. All perfect. Highly recommend.

First time visit but will not be my last!!!

We eat at a lot of nice places, and this was not worth the price. It took 25 minutes to get our drinks, the food is of course good, but wasnt memorable. There are so many incredible restaurants in Portland, this would not be one that I would go back to.

One of our favorite restaurants to eat at when visiting Portland! We really appreciate their attention to detail when we disclose having a gluten allergy. We felt very cared for so thank you! Every time we eat here, we are never disappointed. All the dishes are so tasty, creative and we love the different textures that appear on our plates. Their labneh is honestly some of the best I’ve ever had, don’t sleep on it! Thanks Mac for being a great waiter!

Highly recommend as a lone-diner or two-person dining location! Lots of single airport-style bench seating. Wonderful views of Fore St. I'm very excited to visit again and sit at the kitchen bar to watch the kitchen with my hubby. As a place to catch a meal with 4 people, it's .. complex. The upstairs 'mezzanine' dining has the 4-person table seating. However the table is quite small, especially for multiple tapas/mezze type share plates and drinks. Leg room etc was rough for me. Also the space was very loud, with music from downstairs and sounds from the kitchen below making it hard to hear our friends and the service staff alike. I won't hold the high temperatures too much against the facility, due to the current heat wave, but we all were sweating heavily. Both downstairs and upstairs were equally too warm. We loved the food. No doubt the flavours and ingredient quality is high - the pita alone is worth crossing state lines for, especially when combined with Labneh and skordalia. The accompanying flavors with the vegetable dishes was excellent - toum / za'atar with the chickpea frites, calabrian chili with the broccolini on the menu we ordered from. The Chicken shawarma was absolutely stand-out, and will bring us back for a re-visit. The staff was polite and attentive, especially with one of our friend's very complex dietary needs. However, they struggled to explain the food service convention, whether there would be multiple small plates at once, or whether we should make several orders over time. They didnt provide share-plate utensils. As a guide for ordering, ~ 2-3 dishes per person is a good estimate for quantity to order. For a two person meal, one spread, one vegetable, and one meat/fish would be a good plan. Parking at the Hyatt Place hotel garage - 433 Fore St, was very convenient.

Made a last minute reservation and was blown away by the food! Super creative plates, servers were very nice and attentive, not to mention some of the best carrots that we've ever had. Loved the atmosphere and upbeat vibe!

Went here with girlfriend and sat at the chefs counter. Got the chef tasting menu and sat through 2 hours of absolute bliss eating and watching the kitchen up close. Could not recommend the mussels with bread enough. Favorite place that I ate in Portland maine, pricey but worth it in my opinion.

This was beautifully done true gourmet food we all enjoyed. Was just a little loud inside and the server was not the most friendly. Good experience but would not feel the need to visit again.

Excellent vegetable forward ingredients, except for the tuna which was inedibly tough

Kitchen wellness??? Please remove this nonsense.

Fantastic and unique Mediterranean meets Maine cuisine.

Probably the best restaurant I've been to in Portland so far

Definitely one of the best restaurants in town, with some of the most delicious veggie dishes in particular! Incredible dips, and addictive shawarma!

Most tasty food I have had in a long time. Scallops were incredible, Lamb was out of this world. Definitely will be coming back. Neil was great. Thanks to the chefs👍🏽

Absolutely delicious!! Everything we tried was excellent. Overall favourite dish was the lamb. Highly recommended!

We had an amazing birthday dinner here! Really yummy food and great staff. Highly recommend the broccoli, Skordalia, carrots, and tuna. After dinner cocktails were also so, so good!

I went to Evo with my son for dinner while visiting Portland for Mother's Day. All I can say is if YOU are visiting Portland, plan your stay once you get reservations at Evo as you will not be sorry. The Labneh was creamy, tangy, and the addition of cucumbers gave it a really fresh flavor. The pita served with it was warm, soft, and chewy. You MUST order the asparagus and Chickpea fries...I can't decide which one was my favorite, so I will definitely order both next time I visit. We ordered the Chicken Shawarma which was absolutely delicious and the Scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked and were so sweet. We don't usually order dessert, but had to try the cheesecake. You will not be dissapointed! It was creamy, flavorable and not as sweet as 'traditional' cheesecake, so we didn't walk away with that uncomfortable stuffed feeling. If you like Mediteranean cuisine, don't pass up this gem!

We had a wonderful experience at Evo tonight! Every dish was perfectly balanced and the service was excellent, can’t wait to come back — highly recommend!

great food good views of portland

Upbeat atmosphere with seating at bar facing kitchen or counter facing street. Smallish portions and Portland prices, but oh my, delicious. Service was excellent. Food flavor, texture and presentation also excellent. Would do again. I had the "garden salad" (not typical) and falafel. Well done and satisfying.

Another late review but better late than never, right? Had fancy dinner at this great restaurant with work friends. Everything was delicious. For appetizers, we had chickpea fries, beet salad, borani & fingerling potatoes. My entree of choice was the duck, while my friends had scallops and chicken shawarma. We were too full for dessert. We sat at the chef’s table as recommended by a friend. The chef owner of this place had won Chopped a couple of times.

Gorgeous ambiance with even more delicious food! The long windows provided such great lighting to take some beautiful pictures of the food we ate and honestly I probably didn’t need the light to show how gorgeous these plates were set up! From the spreads to the entrees and the desserts everything was a 10/10! Their chickpea fries were the perfect consistency felt fluffy and airy on the inside but such a crispy crunch on the outside! Their skordalia spread with garlic almond and jalapeño with their house pita bread was such a great way to start a meal. Their carrots are by far one of my favorite carrot dishes I have had yet dining out. The scallops with potato, green garlic and brown butter were cooked perfectly! And their baklava cheesecake was super tasty! I will definitely be heading back soon for a round two!

Fantastic food! The staff are great. Plenty of options for gluten-free folks. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. There is some fish/meat on the menu too. Plates are medium size so you'll want to order a couple things per person. We really wanted to try a bunch of things so we each got three things each to share with each other and got pretty stuffed. Next time we'll have to save room for dessert because the desserts sounded amazing. Best things I had were the chickpea fries and the asparagus dish. After that, my next favorites were the labneh and the beet dish. A friend ordered the scallops and said they were the best scallops she had ever had in her life. There are some great happy hour deals. I think you should really plan $30 per person for a modest meal. You could spend under $20 if you just get one dish or you could spend a lot more if you want to have extra dishes or some of the nice meat dishes plus drinks. We were at the bar aka the chef's table and got a front row seat to see the folks working in the kitchen which was a lot of fun! You can also sit elsewhere or upstairs on the mezzanine. Really fun experience. I highly recommend.

Tuna and carrot are super good. My husband didn’t like his Lamb Kebab.

A friend recommended we check this restaurant out for a special 16th birthday dinner for my twins. Everything was delicious! Literally everything! None of us could decide what we liked best because each dish was so special. Great place to go for a special occasion.

We sat at the chef's bar to watch the kitchen action and opted to pick out 4 vegetarian options from the menu. The portions were generous for 2 people. If you are a big eater and like to take home leftovers, you can choose the Chef's tasting menu, because it is difficult to choose from all the menu options. Each dish was so tasty, with layers of robust flavor & texture. The food is very rich and while we couldn't eat like this every day, we thoroughly enjoyed every option we chose. Simple but creative dishes. We also savored an absolutely decadent chocolate dessert, craft beer & an alcohol free cocktail. The music was a great addition to the overall vibe, and the restaurant set up is unique and bar-style downstairs. I'm glad we close to sit on the ground floor and watch the action. There is also an option to sit at a table upstairs in the mezzanine. We plan to return to try other menu options. A unique dining experience. Very nice, attentive staff.

The best meal I’ve had in a LONG time, and I live in a place with lots of favorite food options artfully prepared. This is my first visit to Portland; Evo is a solid reason to return. Evo does something special and they make you feel special too. Service was stellar; Katie our primary server was informative and gave good guidance. Ancillary service from staff who seated us and brought the various dishes was smoothly efficient. The restaurant adds a 4% service to support the back-of-house staff which I deeply appreciated (they could increase it, IMHO). We had Skordalia, a smooth and tasty spread perfectly scooped with pillowy pita; cabbage dish, with the right amount of char and creamy sauce; a beet and goat cheese dish with the right amount of kick and vinegar; a most excellent massaged kale salad with a light buttermilk dressing, citrus and dried fruit; and two desserts: vanilla cake layered with a pineapple gelatin/mousse and the baklava cheesecake, a wonderfully smooth combination of textures and tastes. I’m not sure any review can do the food justice. Just go and get some gastronomical love. You will want to come back again and again. I do.

Evo was recommended to us by friends. My husband and I had our first dining experience there about two months ago. We ordered the chef's tasting menu, and we were blown away! Every course was amazing. My husband is fairly limited in his vegetable preferences and I would say that his favorite dishes were the vegetables. The love and creativity put into these dishes comes across very clearly. We have since been back to Evo two more times. Brandy was our server each time we visited. She was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, made excellent recommendations and was incredibly personable. We will continue to request her when we dine at Evo in the future. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try.

Food is great! You must try thei tuna, chickpea fritters and mushrooms. Service was excellent too.

Atmosphere was excellent with good music and great vibes. Every course was fantastic -- a treat to eat! The plating was beautiful and overall, Evo provided us a stellar date night dining experience. We can't wait to go back!

Wonderful meal while in town for work. Had muhammara, carrots, and salmon, all fabulous, paired with an arrack-based cocktail, wonderful as well. Service was prompt, professional and friendly. Will come back with my wife to do the tasting menu, for sure.

What a great menu! Outstanding food. Our server, Brandy, was amazing also. Great experience. Highly recommend if you want elevated food in Portland.

We did the 8 course chef’s tasting menu and were not disappointed. The superior: The seasonal wine pairings, the beet salad, the skordalia, the scallops, the lamb, the salmon, the seared tuna The slightly disappointed: The chocolate terrine The would request to not have next time: the chicken course, while the stew/porridge was lovely, the chicken breast itself was too salty. While the service was friendly, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the menu, I’m going to be picky because I think they would appreciate the feedback 1. The runners flew through the descriptions of each course and probably 5/8 course were a fun adventure to figure out the ingredients and flavors that weren’t immediately obvious. Perhaps printing this out would be helpful. 2. The wine pairings aren’t mapped 1:1 with the courses. I would have liked some guidance on that from the start. Was not a detractor from enjoying everything, but I was constantly unsure when the next wine would come so it was a bit of a gamble on meting out the current glass. Again, a printed version would clear up any confusion. Quite pricey but I would eat here again.

Reservation was for 8:30pm, wasn’t sat until 9:10pm. While I was waiting, I noticed the chef calling orders scratch his nose before touching a customers plate that was being sent out. Ambiance was atrocious with blaring music that hurt my ears. Wasn’t told by any staff there was a menu change, and finally when I was sat found out their new menu for the night was almost entirely fish. I can’t eat fish. Had to leave and it ruined Valentines date night as it was too late to find another restaurant at that point. Disappointed in service.

You mother ******s. How. How did you do it??? Had the chef’s tasting. Will never be the same.

Great atmosphere and a wonderful culinary night. Had to wait for 30 minutes beyond the reservation but the staff was totally attentive to our needs during the wait. Pure Maine.

Wonderful food in very pleasant mezzanine dining room, too dark to read the menu! But we managed! Brussels sprouts were the best we’ve ever eaten, spicy and interesting with pomegranate arils, tuna was perfect and bavette of beef with mushrooms was tender and delicious. Cocktails were very good, one glass of red was obviously the bottom of the bottle and should not have been poured. Very pleasant wait staff, but did not understand the complaint about the wine. We have never seen a 4% charge for “kitchen wellness “, I thought the gratuity was usually shared with the kitchen staff . However the food was so outstanding that I had to give 5 stars.

I was excited to see a restaurant offer a vegan/vegetarian tasting menu. So We did the vegan tasting menu and it was not worth the 88$ per person. Which by the way they make the whole table participate in the tasting. So though my friend wasn’t vegan, she still had to eat vegan and pay for it. The vegan/vegetarian menu is pretty much what’s already on vegetables menu and then some of the entrees with none of the proteins. Some of the veggies were overcooked, and for the amount of $ and the fact that we are only eating veggies it should be pretty perfectly cooked. Some dishes were oily (e.g. cauliflower dish). Also, I wish there was a stronger attempt to replace some of the meats with some innovative vegan food dish. Instead we were served the sides of the meat entree menus (ex. Charred leeks with dill sauce and cashews). Also, it was a different chef tasting than I’ve ever had before. We didn’t get much explanation on the dishes and they would come out at random times with no real flow other than starting with a radicchio. However service and staff were nice and I would still recommend some of the veggie dishes but only as like a light shareable snack, but not as your entire meal. Ambiance and nice and intimate, it is a small restaurant with a small kitchen.

Take your date here if you are seeking tasty dishes and romantic atmosphere. Amazing flavors I could not get enough of! Very lovely staff.

This is one of the top restaurants in Portland, Maine and it has contributed to Portland's growing reputation as a dining destination. The theme is Middle Eastern but the variations on that theme are highly imaginative and memorably savory.

We did the 8 course chef's tasting menu. It was a fun way to experience many of the restaurants best offerings. Every course was amazing. Cocktails were delicious and the service was great. The kitchen is actually in the center of the dining room, so you can watch as a team of chefs prepare your meal. This place is a great find!

Your taste buds will thank you for going to EVO. The restaurant offers a welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and amazing food. You won't be disappointed. Money well spent!

This was my first and last time at Evo. Waitress was not at all knowledgeable about how spicy dishes were (too hot for me and the rest of us, and I do enjoy Mexican and Indian food when I have a choice about heat levels); the main course dishes came at the very end of our dinner, rather than spaced out more appropriately; my $11 glass of Lunch was small and not very cold—I have never paid more that $9 for a cold pint anywhere else; the bill came to over $400 with time for our four dinners. There are lots of places in the area that provide delicious food and drink for half the price, so why bother?

I had been here once before and had the tasting menu and thought it was really good. We went back for a birthday dinner with friends and it was a huge disappointment. The food was VERY salty and super spicy. There were no options for mild vs medium vs hot. The best thing on the menu was humas and pita bread. The chick pea fries which we were told were die for were soggy and not tasty. Overall it was crazy expensive for a party of 4 and definitely NOT worth it. I do not plan to go back.

If you’re looking for an elevated taste of Maine, look no further! My partner and I enjoyed one of the best dinners we’ve ever had here, where even the simplest ingredients were made absolutely magical. The restaurant’s commitment to locally sourcing all of their produce, meat, and fish made everything extra fresh and delicious. We ordered 8 plates to share at this tapas-style restaurant, and enjoyed every bite of each dish! Andrew (our server) was friendly, knowledgeable, and paced our meal perfectly, and AC (the bartender) made the best Gimlet I’ve ever tasted! Evo is a gourmet dining experience that’s worth every penny, and will definitely be coming back the next time we’re in Portland :)

Wonderful & Friendly staff. Unfortunately, the dining experience was the opposite. I made a reservation as a semi-romantic birthday dinner. My partner ordered 2 veg. options, and one duck for myself. My partners dishes came super quick which is great, but my duck came out 15-20 minutes later. Therefore, we were unable to eat together, and we weren't going to let the food sit and get cold. The veg. was nothing to write home about. The sweet potato wasn't crispy at all as described by the bartender. And, the falafel was overcooked. The duck was rubbery, and blandly seasoned. The portion size was also small for the expensive asking price. We wouldn't rush back to eat here anytime soon for the money we paid.

Vegan tasting menu is just so good. My wife and I both loved it.

Everything about this place deserves more than 5 stars. The food is phenomenal, out of this world! I have NEVER experienced a meal quite like this and to top it off the waitresses and waiters were absolutely exceptional! They really enhanced our experience! We were there for a wedding party in October and this was the only picture from the night - I was tooooo busy enjoying the food and company. Hands down, will be back again! We still talk about the meal we had, a month later!!!

The chef tasting menu was cheap and started off amazing, but was way too long and ended on some very gross notes, including the worst steak I've ever had (super tough and overly salty). But the good notes at the beginning like the seared tuna and skordalia help to keep this review neutral, and the awesome bar seating looking right into the kitchen balanced out the very spotty service. The people next to me got the same tasting menu but wound up with different dishes, so it's unclear to me how they make their decisions.

We have now been here about 3 or 4 times and love it every time we come. If you are a vegetarian, or taking a vegetarian out to dinner - look no further, this is the best place in town (not that other vegetarian only restaurant). I eat meat, but my wife does not - and I am satisfied to eat an entire plate of carrots with a side of hummus - it's that great - but they have meat as well and it is fantastic, and by no means an afterthought. However, lets talk about my most recent experience. I res on Resy, it's easy. Special occasion? Yes! 10 year anniversary. That's it. We arrive, order the veggie tasting menu - fantastic meal as always from start to finish and WAY more food than they should probably give two people to eat. It is served family style so if you're looking for a more upscale tasting experience then maybe it isn't for you. But, if you can overcome the completely palatable experience of intimately sharing food with your date - I promise you will have a great time. Towards the end of our meal everyone and their mother is spontaneously congratulating us on our anniversary, they took drinks off our bill (since we weren't drinking and they usually do champagne), and they served us three desserts (can I marry a restaurant?). I have read through some of the 2/3/4 star reviews for this place and I have to say that it's definitely unfortunate when expectations=/=reality but if your expectations are a fantastic dining experience with the best service of any restaurant in Portland, outstanding Med inspired flavors and a regularly updated menu - you will quickly learn to love Evo for it's incredible consistency.

Good hospitality, however I think it’s overhyped. Expensive and food is okay. The best things are the spreads.

Held a corporate group dinner at EVO recently and I can't say enough good things about the visit. We did the chef's tasting menu. The food was spectacular and the service was great. I'm still thinking about the food almost a week later. So good!! If I lived in Portland, I would visit this place regularly.

Really amazing experience, would recommend.

Evo was a pleasure to work with on a reservation misunderstanding. The manger was great with follow up and information for rebooking. Outstanding customer service that you just don’t get these days. I highly recommend Evo and look forward to getting back there soon.

Perhaps the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten. SO good!! And they are so accommodating of my dietary needs. Thank you, Evo!

The food was amazing! We split the swordfish and lamb kebabs, and both were excellent. The service was very good. It was a little loud, probably more to acoustics than anything else.

From start to finish, this was one of the best meals and experiences we've had in a restaurant in years. You won't see anything unexpected on the menu; they just prepare it all with such care and creativity, that even something as simple and ubiquitous as hummus tastes special. Neal (Neil?), who took care of us, realized early on that we were in no hurry and treated us appropriately without being asked. His input and candor were an incredible help in making our dinner selections. We had the beet salad, mussels, hummus, and falafel...each was packed with flavors and beautifully presented. But my point is that I think you could order anything on the menu and expect to be equally happy. We shared two desserts. Delicious! Coffee for one came french press. If you like people watching, ask for the window counter that overlooks Fore St. If you want to watch the kitchen (we'll do this next time), ask for the chef's counter. Evo is not inexpensive or even mid-priced. Don't let that deter you. For two people, you'll drop about $200 give or take, and walk out the door feeling like you got the better end of the bargain.

Every bit of food was better than the last. An absolutely wonderful dining experience.

Outstanding. My husband and I walked in without a reservation. The manager/host got us a cocktail and we waited about 30 minutes before being seated. She knew we were enjoying watching the food being prepared and when a spot at the bar overlooking the open kitchen became available right after we sat down, she moved us there. The bartenders- MJ and Emma- were super friendly and very knowledgeable. The food was fabulous- every bite was unique and thoughtfully prepared. We couldn’t have been happier. It was our first time there, and certainly not our last. Can’t wait to return.

Excellent spot for locally sourced ingredients and creative flavors! Henry was fantastic! Can’t recommend this place enough. Intimate, delicious, and fun! Make the playlist public: “let the butcher get some sleep”

10/5 - 💯 This place is incredible. Get the tasting menu and let the amazing chefs do what they do. Words cannot describe how delicious the 8 courses were. Carrots unlike anything I'd ever had, Hummus, Mussels, Cod to start but the absolute best was the Tuna! 🤩

Evo was legit! Everything we had was incredible! I got the chicken shawarma, my brother got the the sirloin, and my friend ordered the cod. We shared bites, and all three options were incredible! I can’t recommend this place highly enough!

We had a dinner in this restaurant (Tripadvisor recommendation) on Sunday night in September 2023. Table was on the second floor (the only area where there are tables but not counters) . Illumination was so bad, that we had to use cell phones when we worked with the bill. Wine was served in a glass for water. Wine had suspicious color. Never saw red Zinfandel of very light color. I had kofta which normally is two or even three juicy pieces of ground meat on a skewer. Here was one very dry piece. My wife had a dish made out of lobster. Because of the darkness it was had to make a definitive statement but my feeling is that it was just a big shrimp. Forgot to say that two main courses came with time gap of good 15 minutes. We were very unhappy with our experience.

This restaurant was absolutely phenomenal! We had the vegan tasting menu and loved every dish- I especially enjoyed the chickpea fries, the carrots and the falafel. The dessert was delightful too! In 5+ years of being vegan I’ve never experienced such incredible food and amazing service. Every person we interacted with was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and kindly answered any questions we had. It was a unique dining experience to get to watch the chefs and bartenders work behind the bar. Can’t recommend this place enough!

In summary, food is good but skip the tastings menu - especially if you are vegetarian. We ordered two vegetarian tasting menus thinking we will get a lot of off the menu items. Most of the dishes were from the menu with inflated prices. It felt like they served the same dishes from the menu, just in family style format. 1. Celery dish - good 2. Pita bread & Hummus - good 3. Carrots - good 4. Salad - Didn't like 5. Chickpea fries - average / didn't like much 6. Aubergine and Potato (new) - just okay 7. Falafel (New, I'm sure they'll make it veggie if you ask) - just okay 8. Dessert - hazelnut cream on biscuits - Didn't like Overall, we paid 210 + tips for the above. If we had ordered independently (25+ per dish), it would have been much cheaper and we could have avoided "paying" for the items we definitely did not want (like salad).

Came here as a large group and settled.on the tasting me menu. Excellent choice. We're hungry guys and we had to have the last courses boxed up. I love Mediterranean cuisine and this did not disappoint in the least

Drinks were great. Service was excellent. We had to all go with the chef special menu or no one else at the table can order it. I am a very picky and plain eater so for me I would not order that but was kind of forced into it. What was served was very good but you have to like what they serve. All in all the food was good. Only negatives and that is why I gave it 4 stars was on the bill which was very expensive was the extra 25.00 service charge for the kitchen. Never seen that before. We were a table of 4 and we tipped on a $650.00 bill a very generous tip for the waiter but to add on another charge for the kitchen is outrageous and the owners of the restaurant should give their kitchen bonus’ based on business not charge customers another service. Is that even legal? So that is why we will not be returning. They also charge you a $100.00 fee on your credit card in case you do t show up. But it is a 5 star restaurant for food, service and atmosphere.

Sat at the chefs table and enjoyed conversations with Jed, the new chef and had excellent service from Meredith. Food was terrific! Thank You!

Our meal at Evo was absolutely superb. If you get the chance, sit at the bar where you can watch the chefs weave their magic. Emma, was attentive and helpful, whilst giving us time to make decisions. We were lucky enough to watch Patrick and Max, ply their art on the plate. They were busy, but were happy to converse with us and talked with enthusiasm about the food they were preparing. The Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern fusion food was beautifully presented and the flavours worked well together. We have been travelling in the states for 7 weeks and this was the best dining experience we’ve had. We cannot recommend it more highly.

Sat at the chef’s table and had the seafood tasting menu! It was all phenomenal.

Food was excellent, and I highly suggest this restaurant.

We had very high hopes for our meal at Evo. We actually had dinner at Twelve the following night, and that was far superior. We heard about the chef’s tasting, so we decided to try that. Watching the chef’s work was rather interesting… however, the food and service did not quite live up to the hype. First, we were poured two wines for $18 a piece that I would call “half-pours.” We then had our appetizers of carrots and baba ghanoush, which were the highlights of the meal. Our entrees were chicken shwarma and the halibut, unfortunately, both were underwhelming. The halibut was overcooked. Perhaps my expectations were just high, but value for $ was not there for us. Our main waitress at the bar was great, but some of the supporting cast were not. This was also amplified by sitting next to the kitchen and hearing all of their sidebar conversations.

The food was amazing. Matt should be proud of his food staff while he is away from the kitchen. The bar staff is quite a different story. Karina was nasty and disrespectful. She made us feel out of place, I guess because we are not locals. It is a shame that a nasty person like her is the face of the restaurant. Stay away if you your not a Portland local.

I went with a friend for dinner and sat at the chef's counter.. had a prime seat to watch the chefs at work! The two bartenders were so informative and friendly... Cocktails are great wine list was great. We were deciding but between ordering a la carte and the tasting menu. One of the chefs, Jed, heard us going back and forth and stopped over to speak with us to see which of the dishes that we were really interested in so they could tailor it to what we were looking for or didn't want to miss... He was very kind and extremely informative. The tasting menu was $108 which I found to be very very affordable. The menu is supposed to be 8 courses portion size was huge and closer to the end we were told there was going to be another couple of courses but we begged them to stop because we are so full lol My favorites were the labneh, The roasted carrots, the lamb kebab and the bavette steak. Chef Matt Ginn Was in the kitchen working alongside his team but a dad he was very friendly and stopped over several times to check on us and interact with us. The energy in the restaurant was very upbeat but still relaxed. We never felt rushed and really enjoyed interacting with the team. I'm really impressed with what they've created here and I will say that this is by far one of the best meals I've had in my life. I will recommend it to everybody!!!

Fantastic dinner place. The food was just amazing and the staff was spectacular. The menu changes frequently and you can't go wrong with whatever you order. The cocktails and wine were wonderful too. It was a wonderful experience to sit at the cheeks chefs window and watch the kitchen. So so good. A great place to go if you are trying to impress someone or have the most amazing meal.

Fantastic service, great drinks, and absolutely delicious food. I highly suggest you sit at the “chef’s window” a bar in front of the kitchen which is open to the restaurant for viewing. You can’t go wrong with anything you order on the menu!

Chef and his team have put done themselves each time I've dined with them. Portions are good but the playing and flavors are artfully craft into layers. Some more subtle some more vibrant. None are off the mark. Service is incredible and attentive. This spot is always on my short list or recommendations. Thank you EVO

You need reservations a couple weeks in advance for Evo and most seats are counter (chef's counter or window counter). The window counter seats would be the choice of the two since you overlook Fore Street. We booked counter, but were fortunate a table opened up upstairs (diners skipped dessert) and they got us upstairs. Seating is important at Evo. We each ordered a main (two bluefin tunas and a chicken schwarma) and we shared several small plates (baba ganoush, chickpea frie, and shishito peppers) and dessert (chocolate cheesecake). Every plate stands out on its own and the chef put his own spin on everything as flavors stand out. You look at the menu and should be prepared to taste something that looks simple, but with elevated tastes because of the use of flavors in terms of spices and preparation. The pita bread is the warm puffy kind that everyone loves and the chickpea fries were amazing. The mains were all really good. Since portions, even the mains, are on the small side, don't be shy on the small plates, which are as substantial as the mains. The quality is outstanding. This is another place that has the a "kitchen wellness" 4% surcharge. Hey management, just charge 4% more and stop hiding higher prices in a fee and pay your outstanding team more. In tipping 20%, we did it on top of the bill LESS that fee. Just pay your team fairly and stop sneaking in this as a little surprise on your bill. Not letting this impact my review score, but it's annoying. The experience is still great and we'll be back.

This place is awesome! I love restaurants that let you "order as you go". Very similar to Regards and Broken Arrow in Portland, even though they are different styles of food. You are able to try so much more food while not getting full until the end of your meal. 10/10 would recommend, especially the roasted peppers.

Cocktails are amazing! Will try the food next time we come.

Small plates, perfect for sharing! Really interesting sauces and vegetable dishes, (beets, carrots, chickpea French fries, hummus), and a protein for each person. Halibut was the best, chicken was a close second. Lamb was a little tough (would not order this again but everything else was delicious!). Make a reservation- you won’t regret it!

My wife and I try to find restaurants with tasting menus for our anniversary to make it a little more special. We decided to try Evo this year. We sat upstairs which seemed like a good choice. It was a little more intimate and better suited for a date up there. Typically with a tasting menu 90% of the dishes are really good and 10% are just okay. Here 100% of the dishes were amazing. All 8 dishes were perfectly balanced and made by someone who clearly cares about what they are doing. It is a little pricey but I do feel like we got our money's worth. We left feeling comfortably full. The drinks are really good here too. I highly recommend this place and that you get the tasting menu. They do offer a vegetarian tasting menu as well. I am sure that is just as good.

Easily one of the best meals we’ve had on this trip. Ordered the carrots, beets, peppers and tuna followed by the chocolate cheesecake. Everything was so delicious, beautifully presented, quick service and very accommodating of gluten allergies. Would happily go back to try more of the menu if we were staying longer!

My wife and I had been to Portland before and knew they had a great food scene and this latest trip and experience at Evo just proves the point. We came here for dinner and sat at the chef's bar. With so many interesting items on the menu we decided to go with the tasting menu which initially we thought a little pricey but given the fantastic courses and portion sizes was well worth it. In addition the service was great and being at the chef's bar gave us an upfront view of the kitchen which was entertaining as well. All in all highly recommend.

Very delicious fine dinning. We sat at the bar and were able to watch the chefs cooking. The salmon was fantastic.

First of all: food was good. All dishes had tons of flavor except for steak course, which was dry/ tough and fell flat in comparison to other courses. Big problem: Menu offers a "chef's tasting menu" and "wine pairing," which the wait staff is clearly not trained to execute: - Ordered a cocktail to start with, it never arrived, which was weird because my wife's drink arrived. - Dishes were delivered rapidly, and at odd intervals, not at all "paired" with the wine. Way less wines than dishes... not normal for a "pairing". - Didn't get our own servings, more of a family style concept, which would be fine except sharing plates and new utensils per course were hit and miss. - Staff did not pour any of the wine at table, nor did they explain the wines. I ordered the "reserve wine pairing" so expected more and had little idea of what I was drinking. Other problems: Just bizarre - we were asked to move tables in the middle of dinner to accommodate a large party showing up. We did so without complaining. No attempt by staff to compensate. - when we initially inquired about the tasting on the menu, waitress described a lamb course. We never received a lamb course. Overall: For two people, with tip we paid $400 for basically Tapas style shared plates and one wine pairing - Good food but shockingly bad service for what the restaurant advertises and charges.

Food is tasty, but to sweet for our taste.

Absolutely top notch on creativity, quality, and service! 10/10! We came here with our one-year-old son not knowing the layout of the seating, and they graciously accommodated us. Highly recommended! Thanks!!!

Great service & atmosphere. Nick, the manager got us in as without a reservation and really went above and beyond for our experience.

Had to delete last review because the “manage” responded with things that were not even true. Had no way to respond to that response. I guess when your complaint is about the manager who’s also managing the google reviews, there’s no point. All we asked was basic respect to paying customers, which we got none from the manager. Worst part, we had to finish dinner here otherwise we would be charged $50 per person even after being treated horribly…

I sat at the chef’s bar. Very friendly and helpful staff. Great drink and wine selection. The summer squash on top of homemade ricotta with an Aleppo pepper oil was absolutely superb, as was the rare tuna atop a smear of avocado! Always a delight!!

Didn’t get to dine at Matt Ginn’s restaurant. I had a massive spinal surgery just before Christmas and couldn’t sit in a high chair. I have a difficult time walking. Our first trip since the surgery. When I politely asked Nick the GM for a lower chair, he refused. I canceled my reservation. He charged us $200 for canceling the reservation. Disgusted

We had the chef’s tasting menu and it was quite disappointing. Each dish was tasteless and the beef dish was, not room temperature, but cold. I didn’t feel it was a true tasting menu because it just was a condensed version of the regular menu. And it was terribly expensive. We were so disappointed

My husband and I had a date night at this special restaurant. We sat at the window bar, which I really enjoyed as we got to people watch as we enjoyed our meal. Our waiter was personable, respectful, and enjoyable. She recommended the carrots and we were so glad she did! The puffed rice was such a nice touch to the dish. We were satiated and entertained.